Water tube fire box locomotive boiler



May 16, 1933. H. L. LUERS WATER TUBE FIRE BOX LOCOMOTIVE BOILER Filed Jan. 2, 1952 5 Sheets-Sheet 1 amulet #4 A. Lula-Rs. Y 6

May 16, 1933. H LUERS WATER TUBE: FIRE BOX LOCOMGTIVE BOILER Filed Jan. 2, 1932 5 Sheets-Sheet y 6, 1933. H. L. LUERS WATER TUBE FIRE BOX LOCQMOTIVE BOILER Filed Jan. 2, 1932 5 Sheets-Sheet 3 May 16, 1933. H. L. LUERS WATER TUBE FIRE BOX LOCOMOTIVES BOILER 4 Filed Jan. 2, 1932 5 Sheets-Sheet 4 gwvenkoz fine/es L. Luz-1P5. w m J 40% May 1 6, 1933. LUERS 1,909,874

WATER'TUBE FI RE BOX LOCOMOTIVE BOILER Filed Jan. 2, 1932 5 Sheets-Sheet 5 I Jwuemtoz HH/Pm L. L UEES.

Patented May 16, 1933 UNITED STATES PATENT oFFice HARRY L. LUERS, OF BALTIMORE, MARYLAND 7 WATER TUBE FIRE BOX. LdCOMOTIVE BOILER Application filed January 2,1932. Serial No. 584,512.

may be largely increased and the length of the fire tubes extending forwardly from the firebox through the barrel correspondingly decreased, thus increasing the steam generating or evaporativespace of the boiler and the power and efliciency of the locomotive. By means of my improved structural organizati on it is possible to increase the steam generating capacity and power of any kind of locomotive boiler of this type, including the boiiers of Mallet locomotives in which the cylinders and valve gear are located just ahead of the front throat sheet, while allowing ample space for the arrangement of parts of the valve gear beneath the barrel, and without interfering with the usual arrangement and operation of the valve gear as commonly employed in Mallet locomotives. My invention further provides a novel combination and arrangement of water circulating and steam generating parts for water tube fireb x locomotive boilers generally which permits of a forward prolongation or lengthening of the firebox in a simple manner and so as to secure manifold structural and working advantages, as hereinafter fully set forth and claimed.

My invention is herein shown for purposes of exemplification as embodied in an Emerson single drum water tube firebox boiler, for use in connection with which it is especially designed, but it is not limited thereto, as it may be used with great efficiency in connection with other boilers of the water tube firebox type.

In the accompanying drawings,

Fig. 1 is a view, partly in elevation but mainly in vertical longitudinal section, of a locomotive boiler constructed in accordance with my invention.

Fig. 2 is afragmentary side elevation of the same with the jacket removed to better show certain features of the firebox construction.

Fig. 3 is a vertical transverse section through the firebox taken in rear of the front water leg and looking toward the barrel.

Fig. 4 is a sectional view similar to Fig. 3 taken partly through the firebox in rear of the vertical plane of the front water leg and partly in a vertical plane in advance thereof and through the front combustion chamber.

Fig. 5 is a viewsimilar to Fig. 4 showing amodification.

My improved water tube firebox boiler comprises a front or outside throat sheet 1, a rear or inside throat sheet 2, a back flue sheet 3, a door sheet 4, backhead 5 and jacket 6. Extending centrally and longitudinally of the fixebox is a'water circulating and steam generating drum 7 which projects at its forward end through the sheet 3 into the barrel8 and at its rear end through the sheet 4 and backhead 5, the front end of said drum being in open communication with the barrel and the rear'end of the drum being closed by a suitable head 9. The sheets 1 and 2 respectively form the front and rear walls of a front water leg or water wall 10, while the sheet 4 and backhead 5 respectively form the front and rear walls of a rear water leg 11, with which rear water leg 11 the drum 7 is in communication at its rear end through openings 12. With sheet 3 are connected the usual smoke tubes or flues 13 which extend forwardly through the barrel to the smokebox'.

In accordance with my invention, I increase the length of the firebox, and may correspondingly decrease the length of the barrel and fiues 13, by arranging the flue sheet in advance of the water leg 10 and extending said water leg upwardly into the firebox above the level of the base of the flue sheet to a level approximately midway of the distance between the floor of the firebox and the drum 7. By this arrangement an auxiliary combustion chamber 14 is provided at the front of the firebox and in advance of the main combustion chamber 15. The water leg 10, as shown, separates and forms a bridge wall between the lower portions of these combustion chambers and causes the formation, between it and the drum, of a throat or passage 16 for passage of the flange and products of combustion from one to the other. The bottom and lower portions of the sides of the chamber 1a are formed, as shown in Figs. 1 to 41:, inclusive, by a hollow-walled connector 17 which is trough-shaped or U-shaped in cross-section and consists of suitably spaced and connected top and bottom walls or sheets 18 and 19 fastened to the sheets 1 and 3 in any preferred manner. This connector extends transversely of the firebox and is in open communication with the barrel 8 and water leg 10 soas to provide a passage for the free and unimpeded flow of water between them. Thefconstruction of the bottom of chamber 14 by the lower portion of sheet 3, water leg 10 and connector 17 is such as to form a downdraft flue to carry the flames and products downward for passage to the flues 13 below the level of the top of the waterleg, so that the usual'number and arrangement of fiues may be employed, and to effect the heating of such surfaces to a high degree.

Arranged at the top ofthe firebox between the drum 7 and sides of the jacket 6 are upper headers 20 extending the full length of the firebox or distance between the sheets 3 and i, and disposed longitudinally of the main combustion chamber 1% of the firebox and at each side thereof are lower main headers 21 which extend the full distance between the sheets 2 and 'and connect the water spaces of the front and rear water legs 10 and 11. Each upper header 20 communicates with the drum 7 through water circulating tubes or nipples 22 and with the lower main header 21 at the same side of the firebox through a longitudinal row of vertical water circulating tubes 23, whereby circulation between the front and rear water legs and the drums and the upper headers 20 and lower main headers 21 is established.

The rows of tubes 23 form the side walls of the firebox main combustion chamber 15 and are suitably fitted at their upper and lower ends in openings in the headers 20 and 21, which headers are provided with clean-out openings 24 in alinement with the tube ends and normally closed by screw plugs 25, whereby, upon the removal of said plugs, the tubes may be conveniently cleaned by means of the usual clean-out devices. The headers 21 are exposed at the lower portion of the firebox for this purpose, while the headers 20 are normally covered by hinged doors 26 in the boiler shell or acket, and which may be opened whenever it is desired to gain access to said headers. Similar groups of tubes 27 are arranged in longitudinal alinement with the tubes 23 at the forward portion of the firebox andat opposite sides of the auxiliary combustion chamber 14 and form the side walls of the upper portion of this chamber. These tubes 27 communicate at their upper ends with the forward or extended portions of the headers 20 and at their lower ends with auxiliary headers 28 extending longitudinalsurfaces contained therein.

ly of the firebox adjacent the upper extremities of the sides of the trough-shaped connector 17 with which said headers 28 communicate through circulation tubes or nipples 29, whereby direct circulation between the upper headers 20, the lower auxiliary headers 28 and the water connector 17 is established. The water flow connections may be completed by the provision of the usual arch tubes 30 extending longitudinally of the main combustion chamber 15 and connecting the upper portions of the water legs 10 and 11. The headers 28, like the headers 20 and 21, may be provided with clean-out openings and closure plugs of'the character described. Suitable insulation 31 is interposed between the rows of tubes 23 and 27 and the sides of the jacket or shell 6 to prevent heat losses, and suitable insulating blocks or material 32 and 33 are provided to close the spaces about the tubes 22 and 29 and the drum 7 and headers 20 and connector 17 and headers 28 to confine the flames and products of combustion to the firebox and to effect a concentration of the heat on the water heating and steam generating 7 The grate (not shown) is arranged in practice in the bottom of the chamber 15 in the space bounded by the sheets 2 and 4t and headers 21 or rows of tubes 23.

It will be seen from the foregoing that bydisposing the flue sheet 3 in advance of the sheets 1 and 2 comprising the water leg 10, which may be disposed in its usual position relative to the rear water leg 11, that the length of the firebox may be increased and the length of the barrel and fiues 13 correspondingly reduced, whereby to obtain a maximum heating and steam generating area in a boiler of given length, and with the re sult that the steam generating capacity of the boiler and power and efiiciency ofthe locomotive will be greatly increased. Also by providing as acomponent part of said chamber the water connector 17, a larger amount of water will be exposed during any given time to the heat of the firebox and a more re liable and efiicient circulation of the water may be obtained to secure larger and more rapid steam generation than has heretofore been possible. This construction allows a drum or drums 7 of increased lengthto be used, and a greater number of water tubes to be employed in the firebox, so that a very large volume of water will at all times be exposed over a large area to the intense heat of the fiames and the products of combustion within the firebox and a greater volume of steam generated during any predetermined period. of time. The invention thus provides an improved construction of water tube firebox boiler by insertingor interposing in effect an auxiliary water steam generator com prising the auxiliary combustion chamber-14, connector 17 and tubes 27, and modified c0- ice operating parts of a general boiler structure, between the firebox proper and thebarrel, resulting in increasing the steam generating capacity of the boiler to the extent of the added auxiliary generator, without the no cessity of increasing the length of the boiler. In locomotives of the Mallet type, the valve gear is arranged just ahead of the 1 throat sheet or front waterileg, and elements of thevalve gearing 34 normally extend from side to side of the locomotive beneath the barrel at this point. An increase of length of the water tube firebox of a Mallet locomotive of ordinary type would, accordingly, be infeasible, for the reason that the-front water leg could not be shiftedforwardly, in order to permitthis to be done, as such arrangement would interfere with and be inhibited by and prevent the usual arrangement of the parts of the valve mechanism. My invention obviates this objection, as by my novel construction and relationship'of the front water leg, front tube sheet and connector, the firebox may be lengthened by extending it in a forward direction without interfering with or interference from the valve mechanism, as the connector 17 takes the place of the rear part of the barrel usually arranged at this point and is similarly disposed to give the re quired amount of spacefor the usual arrangement. of the steam cylinders and valve gearing in a locomotive of this type.

In locomotive water tube firebox boilers the vertical circulating tubes at the sides of the: firebox are ordinarily so arranged asto be materiallyspaced from the flue and door sheets, requiring the use at these points of insulatingmaterial of considerable thickness in order to closethe gaps, which insulating material would frequently check and become loose, with deleterious results. I avoid this objection by offsetting the intermediate portions of the rear tubes 23 toward the sheet 4,

inforce these sheets by the use of staybolts' 35. In lieu of this type of connector, however, I may employ a connector 17' of the type shown in .Fig; 5, comprising a similarly shaped and arranged group of connector tubes 36 extending between the sheets 1 and 3 withthe terminal tubes of the group communicating with the auxiliary headers 28 and the spaces between the tubes closed by insulating brick 37 or other insulating material,

standing theuse of a single drum'in place of the plurality of drums customarily-em.-

ployed. My invention further increases the steam generating capacity ofthe Emerson single drum boiler, thus producing a water tube firebox boiler of still greater steam gen erating capacity for a given size of boiler, without increasing the grate area of the boil- What I claim is l I 1. In a locomotive water tube firebox boiler, a door sheet a throat sheet, a rear flue sheet, a main combustion chamber between the'door sheet and throat sheet, water circulating and steam generating means at the top of the firebox, a hollow flow connection of substantially U-shaped cross-section between the rear flue sheet and the throat sheet and forming therewithan auxiliary combustion chamber, and water tubes at the sides of the auxiliary combustion chamber connecting said water circulating and steam generating means with said Ushaped connection.

'2. In a watertube firebox locomotive boiler, a firebox shell, abarrel, front androar water legs, a back flue sheet at the'rear end of the barrel, the front water leg beingspaced from the rear water leg and the fluev sheet to provide main and auxiliary combustion chambers,'smoke tubes or fiues connected with the flue sheet, a U-shaped unitary water 0011-, ducting connector between the flue sheet and front water leg separate from and arranged within the firebox shell and forming the bot tomand sides of the lo-we'rportion of the auxiliary combustion chamber, water conducting and steam generating connections at the top of the firebox, headers at each side of the firebox connectingthe front and rear water legs, tubes at the sides of the firebox connecting said headers with the water con ducting and steam generating means, and tubes at the sides of the firebox connecting the said connector with the water conducting and steam generating means.

3. In a water tube firebox locomotive boiler, a barrel, a firebox having front and rear water legs, a back flue sheet at the rear end of the barrel, the front water leg being spaced from the rear water leg and the flue sheet to provide main and. auxiliary combustion chambers, smoke tubes or fluesconnected with the flue sheet, a water conducting connector between the flue sheet and" front water leg and forming the bottom and sides of the lower portion of the auxiliary combustion each side of the firebox with the upper headers.

4. In a water tube firebox locomotive boiler, a barrel, a firebox having front and rear water legs, a back flue sheet at the rear end of the barrel, the front water leg being spaced from the rear water leg and the flue sheet to provide main and auxiliary combustion chambers, smoke tubes or fines connected with the flue sheet, a water conducting connector between the'flue sheet and front water leg and forming the bottom and sides of the lower portion of the auxiliary combustion chamber, water circulating and steam generating means in the top of the firebox, lower main headers connecting the water legs, tubes connecting said headers with the water circulating and generating means at each side of the firebox, auxiliary headers in the auxiliary combustion chamber communicating with said water conducting connection, and tubes connecting said auxiliary headers with the water circulating and steam generating means at opposite sides of said auxiliary combustion chamber.

5. In a water tube firebox locomotive boiler, a barrel, a firebox having front and rear water legs, a back fiue sheet atthe rear end of the barrel, the front water leg being spaced from the rear water leg and the flue sheet to provide main and auxiliary combustion chambers, smoke tubes or fiues connected with the fiue sheet, a water conducting co'n-' nector between the flu sheet and front water leg and forming the bottom and sides of the lower portion of the auxiliary combustion chamber, a drum extending longitudinally at the top of the firebox, upper headers extending longitudinally at opposite sides of said drum and communicating therewith, lower main headers connecting the water legs, rows of tubes at each side of the main combustion chamber connecting said-lower headers with the upper headers, auxiliary lower headers in the auxiliary combustion chamber communicating with thesaid water and the water leg forming therewith an auxiliary combustion chamber, water circulating and steam generating means in the upper portions of said chambers, and water tubes at the sides of the auxiliary combustion chamber and between said connection and the water circulating and steam generating means.

7. In a locomotive water tube firebox boiler, a door sheet, a throat sheet, a rear flue sheet, a main combustion chamber between the door sheet and throat sheet, water circulating and steam generating means at the top of the firebox, a hollow flue connection of substantialy U-shaped cross-section between the rear flue sheet and the throat sheet and forming therewith an auxiliary combustion chamber, and water tubes at the sides ofthe auxiliary combustion chamber connecting said water circulating and steam generating means with said U-sha'oed connection.

8'. In a water tube firebox locomotive boiler, a barrel, a firebox having front and rear water legs, a back flue sheet at the rear end of e water tubes forming the sides of the auxili-' ary combustion chamber and connecting the headers at such sides with the water circulating and steam generating means.

9. In a locomotive water tube firebox boiler, a barrel,a firebox shell, water circulating andsteam generating means at the top of the firebox, spaced back flue and door sheets and a water leg, and means coacting therewith and forming a main rear combustion chamber'and a forward auxiliary combustion chamber, said auxiliary chamber having a hollow bottom of unitary construction and substantially U-shaped cross-section arranged between the water leg and barrel at a level to provide a valve gear receiving space beneath said auxiliary combustion chamber, and said water leg forming a separating wall between the lower portions of said chambers and terminating below the top of the firebox to form a passageway between the upper portions of said chambers, and water conducting connections at the sides of the fireboxbetween said water circulat ing and steam generating means and the hollow bottom of the auxiliary combustion chamber. 7 i I 10. A water tube firebox locomotive boiler embodying a firebox shell, a barrel, a rear water leg, a front water leg and a back flue sheet, said back flue sheet being arranged in advance of the front water leg and extending above and below the plane of the upper edge of said water leg, whereby an auxiliary combustion chamber and downdraft flue are provided in advance of the main combustion chamber of the firebox and between the back flue sheet and the front Water leg, water circulating and steam gen erating means in the upper portion of the firebox, a Ushaped hollow unitary connector between the back flue sheet and front water leg separate from and arranged within the firebox shell and forming the bottom and lower portions of the sides of said auxiliary combustion chamber, and water conducting connections at the sides of the front combustion chamber between the hollow connector and said Water circulating and steam generating means, the said bottom of the auxiliary combustion chamber being arranged substantially in the plane of the grate and bottom portion of the barrel.

11. In a locomotive water tube firebox boiler, a firebox having front and rear water legs, a barrel, a back flue sheet at the rear of the barrel, the front water leg being spaced rearwardly from the flue sheet to pro- Vide main and auxiliary combustion chamhers, water circulating and steam generating means at the top of the firebox. a substantially U-shaped hollow water conducting connector between the flue sheet and the front Water leg and forming with said front water leg and the flue sheet an auxiliary combustion chamber at the front of the firebox, headers at the sides of the firebox and connected with the water conducting connector, and water tubes forming the sides of the auxiliary combustion chamber and connecting the headers at such sides with the water circulating and steam generating means.

In testimony whereof I aflix my signature.

HARRY L. LUERS. 

